“Are you calling me a liar?” Aeloria demanded.

“Maybe not, but you’re certainly not a leader. If you were, you wouldn’t be stranded in this city, hopelessly trying to get back to your people.”

Aeloria lowered her gaze. She had inadvertently revealed the dire straits they were in. Alex’s reluctance to negotiate was understandable; any deal she made could be nullified or ignored by the other ministers later, leaving him with no guarantees. No one would invest in such a venture.

“I suppose it was too much to hope for even a little help,” she muttered.

“You know very well what a ‘little help’ can mean to my people. But I’m willing to offer you a solution. Leave her with me and return to your people. Report her as dead. I’ll ensure she lives out her days in the forest, where she can mature at her own pace.”

“And what do you plan to do after that? Use her as your puppet to claim the throne for yourself?”

“No. Once you agree to leave her with me, I’ll adopt her as my own daughter. I don’t intend to let her return to a place where she’s not cherished.”

Aeloria was desperate. The struggle back home was brutal, and no one was willing to accept a small, innocent girl as their queen. In these dark times, everyone wanted a bloodthirsty tyrant who would spill the blood of their enemies, not a compassionate child who might leave them at their mercy.

Worse still, the previous king had never recognized this girl as a legitimate heir to the throne. She had received none of the training or education befitting a prince—not because she was a girl, but because everyone in the court deemed her unfit to rule. The only reason she was a candidate for the throne was that all her royal relatives were dead.

Aeloria felt defeated, unsure of what to think or do. How could she fulfill her oath and place Liora on the throne without her being a puppet for others? She couldn’t leave her unprotected for even a second; if she did, she wouldn’t truly be governing her people.

“Liora, come here,” the admiral murmured.

The little girl looked up from the food the servants had brought her and walked over to Aeloria.

“Do you like it here?” Aeloria asked.

“Yes, I love it here. I’ve never felt better.”

“Not even at the palace?”

“In the palace, they were mean to me.”

“And what do you think of Big Brother Alex?”

“Big Brother Alex is the best. Everyone loves him.”

“Even you?”

“Yes, I love Big Brother too.”

“Would you like Big Brother Alex to adopt you and make you his daughter?”

The little girl lowered her head and murmured something inaudible.

“I didn’t hear you, Liora. I need you to be honest with me.”

“I… I…,” the girl began to sob, and through her tears, she managed to say, “Could I really have that? Could I really have a father who loves me so much?”

Aeloria’s heart nearly broke at the girl’s heartbreaking question. She never imagined Liora would give such an answer.

“Why do you say that? Didn’t your parents’ love suffice?”

At the calm question, the girl reacted violently. She jumped from Aeloria’s lap, pointing a finger at her and shouting.

“They never loved me! They always scolded and despised me, left me without food, and wouldn’t let me play. My mother hated me, and my father was never around. My brothers constantly bullied me. I’d much rather stay with Alex!” The girl finished shouting, moving beside Alex for an embrace, which he provided protectively.

Aeloria tried to recall different situations and cast her former home and family in a better light, but the girl was determined to tear down each one. Even when some objectively seemed like instances of affection, the girl’s sheer defiance rejected everything Aeloria said. She grew increasingly red-faced and agitated.

“There, there, calm down. Nobody is going to hurt you here.” Alex patted her head kindly, using his aura to relax her.

Alex gestured to a servant, who came forward to lead the girl back to a chair, offering her sweets and more toys to calm her anxiety.

“How did you turn her against me so quickly?” Aeloria asked, defeated.

“She may seem naïve, but she’s not stupid. She knows many people plan to throw her into a bloody struggle just to use her. You know very well this isn’t something she wants.”

“No! She must fight for the throne!” Aeloria exclaimed, clenching her hands.

Alex exhaled. “Are you sure that’s what you want? Forcing her into something like this could be more harmful.”

“What? You think that just because you’ve known her for a day, you can decide for her?”

“I believe she can decide for herself, and right now, it doesn’t look like she’s on your side.”

The room fell silent, Alex’s words hanging in the air. Aeloria looked at the girl, now curled up in a chair, hugging a stuffed toy.

“Alex, you can’t understand what this means for our people. She’s our only hope of restoring order and peace,” Aeloria said, her voice trembling with emotion and desperation.

“Restoring order at the cost of her happiness and peace of mind?” Alex responded, his tone firm but understanding. “At what price, Aeloria? She’s just a child. Millions will die before she’s ready. She doesn’t deserve to be a pawn in anyone’s power game.”

Aeloria felt a pang of guilt and sadness. She remembered the promises she had made, the hopes and dreams of a once-prosperous kingdom. But she also saw the reality in Liora’s eyes, the desperation and fear of returning to a place where she never felt loved.

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“It’s hard, I know,” Alex continued, moving closer to Aeloria. “But sometimes, the bravest thing we can do is let go of our expectations and allow others to choose their own path.”

“And what will I do?” Aeloria whispered, her voice breaking. “I’ve dedicated my life to the kingdom. How can I simply let her go?”

“You’re not abandoning her,” Alex said gently. “You’re giving her a chance to live, to grow in a place where she feels safe and loved. You can always be nearby, watching over her without forcing her into a destiny she doesn’t want.”

Aeloria felt tears well up in her eyes, the internal struggle between duty and love overflowing in her heart. “I can’t… I can’t lose her.”

“You won’t lose her,” Alex assured, placing a hand on her shoulder. “You’ll be caring for her in the best way possible. Here, she can be a child, she can be happy.”

The little Liora watched from her chair, her big eyes filled with hope and fear. Alex turned to her and smiled, extending a hand.

“Liora, would you like to stay here with me and my friends?” Alex asked, his voice full of kindness.

Liora nodded timidly, taking Alex’s hand. “Yes, I’d like that very much.”

Aeloria saw the hope in the girl’s eyes, the sincerity in her response. She sighed deeply, making a decision she knew would be the hardest of her life. “Alright. If that’s what you want, Liora, then I’ll make sure you’re safe here.”

Alex smiled, gently squeezing Liora’s hand. “I promise I’ll take care of her as if she were my own daughter.”

Aeloria nodded, wiping away her tears. “I trust you, Alex. And I’ll always be watching over her, even from a distance.”

With a new sense of purpose, Aeloria leaned down to Liora and gave her a warm hug. “I’ll always be here for you, little one. Never forget that.”

Liora hugged Aeloria tightly, whispering a timid “Thank you” before turning back to Alex, feeling safe and loved for the first time in a long while.

Aeloria stood up with determination, her eyes now filled with resolve. “I have to return and fight for my people, find a resolution to the conflict. But knowing Liora is safe, I’ll have the strength to face whatever comes.”

Alex nodded, understanding the sacrifice Aeloria was making. “Good luck, Aeloria. May the winds be favorable to you.”

The room, once filled with tension and conflict, now carried a sense of peace and hope. Aeloria, Alex, and Liora knew the path ahead would be difficult, but together, they had the strength to face it and build a better future. As Aeloria prepared to leave, Alex and Liora hugged her goodbye, promising to stay in touch and support each other across the distance.

With a heavy heart but filled with determination, Aeloria left the room, ready to face the challenges ahead and fight for a future where her people could live in peace and prosperity.

Aeloria gathered her band and walked back to her ship. Along the way, she couldn't stop thinking about what had happened. She had left the only heir to the throne with a stranger. Although she wasn't particularly close to the girl either, the truth was that everyone who had ever been close to the child was dead. No one truly cared about the girl's whereabouts, no one wanted her as their queen, and honestly, no one would even remember her.

When she arrived where her ship should have been, she found nothing. Fearfully, she asked around, only to discover that Alex had paid for a complete renovation. Aeloria had mixed feelings, but there was nothing more to do now but wait and contact certain people for the fight.

Back at his mansion, Alex was about to start the rest of his day, so he left the little girl to explore the mansion on her own with a couple of maids to look after her. Despite the strange appearance of the Gnolls and the difficulty they had communicating with her, both sides managed to understand each other through poorly spoken Elvish, which was more or less the lingua franca in these parts of the world.

"Alright, everyone, let's get back to business," Alex summarized the meeting.

The group began discussing various matters. Alex shared information he had received from different sources and his progress with the major influences in the area with Bromir, who in turn discussed all matters related to his trade expedition.

Bromir had traveled on several different ships with his band, moving goods and connecting with various markets to the north of the peninsula. He had now roughly mapped out a profitable route for the movement of goods, which included most of the pieces Alex received as taxes for the benefit of the kingdom, as well as his personal tributes.

"The route looks excellent, but I don't see what you'll be acquiring in those places," Alex asked.

"Sir?"

"If you're going to travel to those places on your own ships, we should also think about what to buy and sell elsewhere, bringing back only what we need. We need to maximize the benefits of each trip."

Bromir put his hands to his head, realizing he had forgotten such a basic aspect of maritime trade. Well, he had never been a major player in maritime trade to begin with.

"Ah, forgive my oversight. I’ll review some documents with my subordinates to check what they produce and process in those cities and see what goods we can move or bring back more cheaply."

"That's fine. Meanwhile, I'd like you to leave some space in your planned itineraries. We may need to include trips to the south in this route soon."

"To the south? I see, it may be possible that we’ll have to get involved in that anyway. Are you thinking of getting involved in that pie?"

"I don't like to meddle in others' pies, but I have a slight feeling they'll come here first to meddle in mine."

"I see. Well, boss, I'd also like you to negotiate with the city council for the import rights of hazardous materials. My boys back in the forest are trying to export some Greytar, and it's impossible without a license."

"Understood. I'll speak with House Trelyn to see if they can arrange a meeting with the council members and expedite some other paperwork."

"Thank you, boss. I'll have the revised route ready in the coming days."

Bromir left the room to move to his own office, where he would meet with his aides to work on the new plan. Given the vastness of the mansion and the large number of empty rooms, Alex had approved that each leader have their own office to work on their affairs.

"What's on your mind, Kragash?"

"The girl, my lord."

"What about her?"

"When she got angry, she let out faint sparks of aura."

"I didn't really feel anything," Alex replied, puzzled.

"I barely felt it. What worries me is that it gave me a sensation similar to the void corruption in the temple."

"The cultists'?"

"No, more like the residue after the fight. Under normal circumstances, it would have cleansed itself with the circulation of her own energy."

"But if we assume her family's death was an attack, and after all this time, it hasn't cleared, then something must be blocking her aura circulation, which would explain why she hasn't developed the natural aggressiveness of her species," Alex inferred.

"Exactly, sir. Whatever it is, something is definitely wrong with the girl. Also, do you really plan to adopt her?"

"Ah, I see, that's what you wanted to know. Hahaha, why not? I always wanted to have a little sister, but for some reason, my parents couldn't conceive a second child."

Kragash simply shook his head. He knew his leader could have had a dozen plays at this moment. Who could know if he would end up playing them or not?

In the following days, Alex began his operations in the city, trying to become known among reputable artisans and the high society, which involved participating in various social events. At the same time, Kragash began setting up channels in the slums. Many Gnolls were in servitude in this city, all of whom had felt Alex's presence. He was like a beacon that all Gnolls could see when they closed their eyes, giving them hope for change. Kragash used this to connect with them, leveraging their language, which others did not understand, to gather information and dirt on other city figures.

Of course, this was only his night job, as by day, the young Gnoll had been certified as Alex's guard captain and had obtained the necessary papers to move troops in and out of the city. These were small patrols whose mission was to connect with Alex about events outside and communicate his orders while starting to move goods more consistently.

Eventually, Alex deemed it prudent to examine the girl's aura. Kragash's observations were really difficult to confirm, as there didn't seem to be any noticeable trace of void corruption in the girl, which intrigued Alex. Nevertheless, he did not let this deter him and ended up bringing Atarra to the city to help examine the girl's aura.

The old matriarch did not discover anything at first. However, she continued conducting some other tests. She, too, had felt that something was amiss until finally, in conjunction with Alex's aura and some forced cooperation from Liora, they managed to get to the heart of the matter and resolve it once and for all. The conclusion was clear: the girl had been cursed, most likely at birth or very shortly thereafter.